Healthcare, Community and City Officials Join Forces to Address Health Equity in Chatham
CHICAGO, Ill. (July 15, 2025) – “A Path for a Healthier Chatham – Donation and Registration Drive” brought together Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network, the American Red Cross and Aldermen Michelle Harris and William Hall to provide local health and wellness resources to the Chatham community.
To help empower residents to take charge of their well-being, “A Path for a Healthier Chatham” offered health screenings, vital wellness information and a blood drive as well as the chance to connect with other local resources. The inaugural event was held on Thursday, July 10, at the Jackie D. Lynch Building, 7936 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago.
“We are incredibly excited to launch ‘A Path for a Healthier Chatham’ as a cornerstone initiative for community well-being,” said Marion Shuck, Executive Vice President, Governmental Relations and External Affairs at Gift of Hope. “This event embodies our commitment to wellness, recognizing that organ and tissue donation is one profound aspect of a larger journey toward healthier lives. We believe that by providing accessible health resources and screenings, we empower individuals to make life-affirming decisions, not only for themselves but potentially for others through the gift of donation.”
“A Pathway to a Healthier Chatham” provided an opportunity to foster community spirit while helping residents discover pathways to a healthier future.
“A healthier community is a stronger community,” said Ald. Harris. “For too long, the Southside has faced disparities in access to essential health resources. Events like this are not just about a single day of services; they are about forging a path for a future where every resident on the Southside has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.”
“As a resident of Chicago’s South Side and an employee of the American Red Cross Biomedical team, I am dedicated to giving back to my community by educating and providing resources to potential blood donors,” said Tammy Winchester, Illinois Emerging Markets Manager at the American Red Cross. “African American blood donors play a crucial role in supporting patients battling sickle cell disease, as we are the most compatible blood match for those requiring transfusions. There is an urgent need for more donors to meet this demand.”
“When we talk about the welfare of our neighborhoods, especially here on the South Side, we’re not just talking about statistics. We’re talking about families, elders, young people… our neighbors,” said Hall. “We’re talking about folks who deserve to live full, healthy lives, no matter their ZIP code. Health disparities didn’t start yesterday, and they won’t be solved overnight. But together, with love, with persistence, and with community at the center—we can close those gaps.”
“A Path for a Healthier Chatham” is made possible by the collaboration of community partners. In addition to Chicago Ald. William Hall (6th), Ald. Michelle Harris (8th) the event featured the American Heart Association, Cook County Health, Zing Health, National Kidney Foundation of Illinois, Southside Healthy Community Organization, Cook County Health, Pullman Bank & Trust, CTSHealth, Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. professional nursing organization, Chase Bank, Aetna Health Insurance, Chicago A Chase Bank, Aetna Health Insurance, and media partner Omni Channel Radio.
About Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network
Gift of Hope Organ & Tissue Donor Network is the nonprofit organ procurement organization (OPO) that coordinates organ and tissue donation and provides public education on donation in Illinois and northwest Indiana. As one of 55 OPOs that make up the nation’s organ donation system, Gift of Hope works with 180 hospitals and serves 12 million people in its donation service area. Since 1986, its work has saved the lives of more than 29,000 organ transplant recipients and improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of tissue transplant recipients. For more information, visit giftofhope.org.